Pollock's Toy Museum facts for kids
Pollock's Toy Museum is a small and charming museum in London, England. It's a place where you can discover many old and interesting toys. The museum is currently located in two different spots: the Whitgift Centre in Croydon and at Leadenhall Market.
The Story of Pollock's Toy Museum
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The museum is named after Benjamin Pollock. He was a publisher who made Victorian toy theatres. These were like small paper stages with characters that children could use to put on their own plays.
After Benjamin Pollock passed away in 1937, a man named Alan Keen bought his remaining toy theatre items. Keen wanted to continue the business, and he reopened it in 1946. However, his business ran into trouble by 1951.
A woman named Marguerite Fawdry wanted to buy some toy theatre pieces for her son. When she found Keen's business closed, she decided to buy everything he had left. This large collection of toys became the start of Pollock's Toy Museum.
Where the Museum Began
The museum first opened in 1956. It started in just one attic room at 44 Monmouth Street, near Covent Garden. As the museum became more popular, it grew bigger. More rooms were used for displays, and a toy shop opened on the ground floor.
By 1969, the collection had grown too large for the Monmouth Street building. So, Pollock's Toy Museum moved to 1 Scala Street. This new location also had a museum shop on the ground floor to help support the museum.
The museum at Scala Street displayed many different kinds of vintage toys. These included old teddy bears, detailed dolls' houses, classic rocking horses, and miniature theatres. There were also electric train sets and antique models. Today, the museum is still run by Marguerite Fawdry's grandson.
The Museum's New Homes
In early 2023, the museum announced that it could not stay at its Scala Street building. The staff and volunteers carefully moved all the toys into storage.
Now, the museum's collection is split between two temporary locations. You can find parts of the museum at the Whitgift Centre in Croydon and at Leadenhall Market. These are temporary homes while the museum looks for a new permanent place to display its wonderful toys.
See Also
- Benjamin Pollock's Toy Shop
